The bigger picture

Ant and Dec; Holmes and Watson; Posh and Becks; cheese and pickle; gin and tonic. All of these are, in no particular order, examples of perfect partnerships – and the same can also be said for words and pictures.

A striking image or a thought-provoking, entertaining piece of writing can, individually, create quite an impression. But if you put the two together, the sky’s the limit, especially when you are communicating with clients or new business prospects.

Facebook’s recent acquisition of photo sharing app Instagram highlights the importance of images to our everyday lives. Thanks in no small part to advances in mobile phone technology, we are now snapping our friends, family and day-to-day activities more than ever before, and we are sharing the results via social media. Hence Instagram’s reported price tag of $1bn – not bad for a two year old company which, according to the press, is yet to make a profit!

When embarking on a communications campaign for your company, good digital photography is a must. Building up an ‘album’ of useful images is a sensible investment, because those images can be used in so many different ways. Press releases on new product launches or contract wins are more likely to catch the eye of an editor if they are accompanied by quality photos, and likewise an authoritative, educational article will be enhanced by the right pictures. In turn, these images can be used on your website, in brochures, as backdrops to exhibition stands – the possibilities are endless. And don’t forget your management team and staff. Good photos of them will again add an extra something to articles and news items – but no passport pics please! Invest in professional photography and think creatively, as well as conventional head and shoulders shots, images taken at interesting sites and different work locations will make your company stand out from the crowd.

Moving pictures also have their part to play. If you’ve got a new product, how about a training video uploaded to YouTube, or an interview with the MD about your new acquisition on your website? All these add interest to your company image and will create a buzz around your brand – so when you’re putting together your communication campaigns, don’t forget the bigger picture!

Tomorrow’s Cleaning – May 2012 @TomoCleaning